Flood-fence



(No Model.)

H. D. MERRILL.

FLOOD FENCE.

No. 486,349. Patented Nov. 15, 1892.

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STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HENRY DEARBORNE MERRILL, OF MIDDLEBURY, INDIANA.

FLOOD-FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,349, dated November 15, 1892.

Application filed January 15, 1892. Serial No. 418.172. (No model.)

Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flood- Fences, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in farm flood-fences adapted to cross streams and low places subject or liable to overflow in time of floods, which fence will bar the passage of all stock when the water is at its usual height or below its usual height, and wherein when the rise of water or an overflow takes place the fence will incline sufficiently to permit the drift carried by the water to pass over without damaging the fence, and wherein the fence will also rise automatically to its normal or vertical position as the water recedes.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set' forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front-elevation of a section of a fence constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the posts, the panel being in vertical section, the said figure being also adapted to illustrate the fence in three positions-one in positive and two in dotted lines-the first position being a vertical or normal one, the second a position to be occupied in the winter, the fence-panel being can ried somewhat at an inclination, and the third position is a horizontal one which carries the fence parallel to the stream and permits objects to pass over unobstructed. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one form of post adapted for use in connection with certain characters of ground, and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the post shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings by letters and figures, A represents the posts, which may be of wood or other suitable material.

When streams having bed-rock bottoms are to be crossed by the fence, holes are drilled in the bed of the stream transversely thereof at points where it is proposed to plant the posts, and in this character of ground the form of posts shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is preferred. in which it will be observed that the post, which is designated as A, is T-shaped in cross-section throughout the major portion of its length, the upper portion being perfectly T-shaped, while at the lower portion of the post the head member 10 of the T is curved to form a segment, and is best shown in Fig. 5, the shank member 11 remaining straight. The portions of the posts having the curved heads 10 are introd uced'into holes drilled to receive them, and the length of the curved portion of the cross-bars or head members of the posts is preferably equal to the depth of the holes in which the posts are placed, the posts being so located that their cross-bars or head members face the head of the stream. The posts beingin position two preferably straight wedges or keys 12 are driven into the holes, one at each side of the shank members of the posts, and said keys are driven vertically downward to the bottom of the'holes, their position being edgewise with the current and extending upward to any height desired to assist in the support of the posts, thus providing a solid foundation for that portion of the posts above the ground, as the wedges not only serve to steady the central .orjsh'ank members of the posts, but also assist in crowding the curved cross-bars or head members to a firm contact with the walls of the hole. I

When building a fence across streams having different formations, the wooden posts A (shown in Fig. 1) may be employed, in which event the posts are set permanently at either bank of the stream. Each post is provided with a pivot pin or stud 13, extending at a right angle from its inner face in the direction of the opposite post. These pivot pins or studs may be secured to the posts in any suitable or approved manner and are located parallel with the line of the fence; but their location may be varied as occasion may demand.

Each panel of the fence may be said to 0011- sist of a heavy log or beam 14:, adapted to be suspended from the posts inside thereofthat is, in the direction of the head of the stream-by means of two hinges 14, used in of bolts having elongated eyes or slots, the

bolts being secured to the log or beam and the eyes or slots being adapted to receive the pivot-pins 13, or the hinges may consist of staples, as shown in the drawings, passing through the log or beam and downwardly inclined in the direction of upstream at an anclaim. as new and desire to secure by Letters gle of about forty-five degrees' and secured with nuts or burrs; but any desired form of binge may be employed which will maintain the fence-panel in the position above described with relation to the stream; and to. The pickets are secure totthe log the posts. or beam at such distances apart as to bar the passage of stock, the log-or beam and pickets. const tuting the body portion of a. fence Wherever it is necessary the side pane faces of the log or beam, at the top are beveled, as. illustrated at l6 in Fig. 3,.to.a-fiord the bean-i or log a solid bearingagainst the post when, the panelr is in either-a horizontal or a Vertical position.

It is preferable in winter that. the normal position of the fence-panel should; be thatbetween a verticalanda a horizontal positiomand to, accomplish this end stop-pinsQSare secured: to theinner facesof the posts, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, after the body of: the panel has been pressed.d'ownwardand UhGStOpTPlIIS are so located, that when the panelis. released the weight of its beam or log l t in, carrying the end pickets to an engagement. with the,

under faces of the stopswill locate the panel in thc required position. prevent the fence from rising above a prede-V tenminedposition; but it is free to move downward. as far as may be required. The stop-.

pins, however, are preferably made removable, so that they need not be brought into action, save when required.

It is obvious that should a stream, crossed byafenceconstructed as above describedbecomer swollen the drift carried downby said stream and the force of the current will without injury to the. fence press it down to an in Thus. the stop-pins:

clined, or, if necessary, a horizontal position, thereby permitting the free passage of any obstruction, and it is further evident that when the flood subsides the weighty log or beam 14 will automatically carry the fence to its normal position.

In the event that the stream is too wide for one fence-panel to span it two or more panels 1 may be employed with equally-eifective results, the added panels being constructed in substantially the same manner as the one above described.

Having thus described my invention, I

Patent- 1. In a flood-fence, the combination, with 1 posts provided with pins on their inner faces,

of a panel providedwith elongated eyes engaging the pins on the posts, substantially as described.

2. In a flood-fence, the combination, with posts provided with pins on their inner faces, of a. panel comprising a beam. of: greater v. length than the distance the posts are apart,

and pickets projecting from the beam, said beam being providedwith elongated eyes engaging; the pins on the posts, substantiallyas herein shown and described.

3. In a. flood-fence, the combination, with posts adapted to. be fi-xed in the bed at a stream or in low land: and: pivot-pins projected fro rn; the posts parallel with: the proposed line of fence or gate, of. a panel comprising a weighty beam and pickets. projected fromthe beam, bolts secured. to the beam and having I elongated eyes engaging the pivot-pins of the posts, andstops carried by the posts,.whereby the upward movement of the panel may be limited, as and for the purposespecified.

4:. A post adapted for use in connection with flood-fences, the said post. being constructed of metal. T-shaped in cross-section, the cross-baror head member at the lower end of the post being curved inward to. form a segment,,and wedges adapted for use in 

